Authorised waste manager

An authorised waste manager is the individual or legal entity, public or private, that performs any of the operations making up waste management: collection, transport, storage, recovery or disposal, including the supervision of these operations. In Spain this figure is regulated by Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soil for a circular economy, which transposes the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC.

The waste manager is a cornerstone of the circular economy: it ensures that each waste stream is treated according to the waste hierarchy, prioritising prevention, preparation for reuse and recycling over energy recovery and disposal.

Producer, holder and manager: the difference

Law 7/2022 distinguishes several roles with different obligations:

• Initial producer: whoever generates waste through their activity, or carries out pre-treatment, mixing or other operations that change its nature or composition.
• Holder: the producer of the waste or any other person who has it in their possession and is not a manager.
• Manager: whoever professionally carries out management operations, whether or not they are the producer.
• Dealer and broker: whoever acts on their own account (dealer) or on behalf of others (broker) in buying or arranging waste management, without necessarily taking physical possession.

The producer's or holder's responsibility does not end when the waste is handed over: it continues until treatment has been completed and duly documented, which connects with waste traceability.

Authorisation and notification

To operate, the manager must hold the appropriate permit:

• Authorisation from the regional authority for facilities and treatment operations (recovery and disposal) and, where applicable, for storage linked to collection.
• Prior notification before starting activities such as professional transport or acting as a dealer or broker.

In both cases the activity is recorded in the waste production and management register, which integrates information from regional and national administrations.

Documentary obligations

Key obligations include:

• Chronological record: a log of the quantity, nature, origin, destination and treatment of waste, kept for the legally required period.
• Annual report: information on the waste managed, submitted to the competent authority.
• Shipment documentation: waste movements are notified and documented through the Electronic Waste Information System (e-SIR), reinforcing control and traceability.

When the manager handles hazardous waste, requirements intensify: identification and labelling, a ban on mixing, and additional safety and documentation rules.

Link with extended producer responsibility

In streams subject to extended producer responsibility (packaging, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, tyres, etc.), producers finance and organise management, usually through collective schemes that contract authorised managers. Properly selecting and monitoring managers is key to evidencing compliance and meeting collection and recycling targets.

Manage and document your waste with Manglai

Knowing who manages each waste stream, under what authorisation and with what treatment outcome is essential for compliance and rigorous reporting. Discover how Manglai can help you centralise waste traceability, connect it to your environmental footprint and prepare your sustainability information.